Film Awards

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From 1986 to 2009, Earthwatch held a unique partnership with the National Geographic Society to honor documentaries that highlight conservation efforts.

To this day, these movies inspire, entertain, and educate, while providing viewers a look at what makes the Earth the wonderful place it as, and what is required to preserve it.

2009

Wild Ocean
Each year an unbelievable feeding frenzy takes place in the oceans of South Africa as billions of sardines migrate up the KwaZulu-Natal Coast.

Winners: Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.

2008

The 11th Hour
This film looks at the state of the global environment, including visionary and practical solutions for restoring the planet’s ecosystems.

Winners: Leonardo DiCaprio, Leila Conners Petersen, Nadia Petersen.

2007

Dimming the Sun
New evidence that air pollution has masked the full impact of global warming suggests the world may soon face a heightened climate crisis.

Winners: David Sington and Duncan Copp.

2006

A Life Among Whales
This film allows delves deeply into the unique relationship between humans and whales, and contemplates whether whale hunting should be banned, as told by renowned whale biologist Dr. Roger Payne.

Winners: Bill Haney and Dr. Roger Payne (Lifetime Achievement Award).

2005

Earthling
Wolfgang Bayer has made wildlife films for 30 years. After a heart attack in the wilderness, he spent a year with his family on his worldly filmmaking jaunts. This film chronicles that year, and shows changes this produced in the relationships within his family.

Winners: Wolfgang and Tristan Bayer.

2004

Lords of the Arctic
The first in-depth look at the polar bear, the majestic creature that has fascinated man since the days of the Pharaohs.

Winner: Caroline Underwood.

2003

Matrix of Life
Water and air move endlessly together, atoms linking and delinking to form ocean and atmosphere. Scientists are discovering just how complex this matrix is where water defies human boundaries and human ownership. This is Episode 2 of The Balance of Life, a four-part documentary.

Winner: Dr. David Suzuki (Lifetime Achievement Award).

2001

Crown of the Continent
Crown of the Continent explores Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, in Alaska, and includes stunning, artful photography.

Winner: John Grabowska.

Of Ochre and Water
Journey over 7 years into the memory and landscape of the nomadic Himba people of the arid Northern Namibia.

Winners: Joelle Chesselet and Craig Matthew.

Eyeball to Eyeball
First Person was a TV series covering a range of topics. Eyeball to Eyeball was Episode 6 of Season 1, and featured Clyde Roper, the authority on the giant squid.

Winner: Errol Morris.

Realm of the Lobster
Investigates the lobster’s habitat and follows its life from birth to maturity.

Winners: Clarita Berger and Nick Caloyianis.

2000

Heroes of the High Frontier
Rain Forest: Heroes of the High Frontier follows several nimble explorers into the upper reaches of the rain-forest canopy, where more than half of the Earth's species sprout, hatch, or wriggle their way into the world.

Winner: Tim Scoones.

Tales of the Tides
The story of the legendary competition between the animals living on the wild coast of northern Kenya.

Winners: Mark Deeble and Victoria Stone.

Me & Isaac Newton
Seven of today’s top scientist/researchers are the subject of this humorous exploration of real people behind the white lab coats.

Winner: Michael Apted.

1999

A Place in the Land
Winner: Charles Guggenheim.

Cuba 15
Winner: Elizabeth Schub.

Endangered Species
Winner: Robert Nixon.

Fast, Cheap & Out of Control
Winner: Errol Morris.

1998

Falling Down Stairs
Winner: Barbara Willis Sweete.

Scary Man
Winners: Eugenie Jansen and Albert Elings.

The Last Frog
Winner: Allison Argo.

Mulholland's Dream
Winner: Jon Else.

1997

Seeds of Tibet: Voices of Children in Exile
Winners: Toby Beach, Luke Wolbach and Peter Yost.

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